Rescue Operations

On the morning of 18th July 1940, many Jewish refugees from Poland had gathered outside the Japanese consulate in Kaunas. Many were Polish-Jews, who had arrived only months earlier, after the Soviet invasion of Poland and escaping the Nazi regime. Looking for an escape, especially visas enabling them to escape Europe. After consulting his government, he was told only to hand visas to people with proper papers. He was torn between his spotless career as a diplomat and his humility towards saving the Jews. 

Sugihara had a month-long extension for his consulate to stay open, as the war had started. While other diplomats turned their backs on the refugees, Sugihara put his extension to good use by writing visas, against his government’s instructions. Since Sugihara was in Lithuania, which was neutral during WWII, he was able to escape the Germans and subsequently spent the next six weeks, working 18-hour days, eventually writing out about 2,139 transit visas. He was directly involved in the rescue of at least 3,000 Jews, if not more. 

He paid the price for his actions, especially when he came back to Japan, he was fired from his job, and worked in labour heavy jobs, paying essentially for the thousands of lives he saved, with his own health.